Coaching Staff​
Sunday: Kyle Hopkins
Monday: Grayton Geisman
Tuesday: Jack Kangas
Wednesday: AJ Burt
Thursday: Isaac Lumley
2019-2020 Officers
President: Braden Kane
Vice President: Alex Borchers
Treasurer: Linsie Zhang
Meet Coordinator: Jeremiah Vannest
Apparel: Liam Manning
Fundraising/Sponsorship: Katie Donovan
Social/Outreach: Isaac Lumley
Risk Manager: Marco LoPiccolo
Nationals Coordinator: Abby Moellering
Nationals Committee: Shannon Dixon and Hannah Clinger
Former President: Kathryn Sparrow

Meet the officers!

  1. Name/position: Braden Kane / President
  2. Year: Senior
  3. Best stroke: I'm pretty good at starts...
  4. How many years have you been swimming/ what teams: I've been on and off competitive swimming for 15 years. I started out swimming with my summer club team, the Madeira Marlins, I went on to swim for Madeira High School and the Blue Ash YMCA of Cincinnati, Ohio. This will be my fourth year swimming for CSOSU.
  5. Why did you join the club team:  I wanted to meet and make friends with people who share my love for swimming and fitness.
  6. What is your favorite memory from club swimming: I will forever cherish the memory of my boys and I getting all dressed up in our Hula skirts and Hawaiian garb and going buck wild to cheer for the Buckeyes at finals of the Nationals meet my freshman year.
  7. Name one goal for the upcoming season: In general I would love to see more participation from all the members of the team throughout the year and for us to win the Spirit Award at Nationals this year.
  1. Name/position: Alex Borchers/Vice President
  2. Year: Senior
  3. Best stroke: Backstroke
  4. How many years have you been swimming/ what teams: I have been swimming for 6 years, 3 years in high school and 1 and a half with Saint Louis University 1 and a half with this team.
  5. Why did you join the club team:  I joined this team to socialize and make friends as well as to enjoy the sport as much as possible. 
  6. What is your favorite memory from club swimming: My favorite memory has been being men’s national champions the past 2 years
  7. Name one goal for the upcoming season: My main goal this year is to break 53 in the 100 back and 49 in the 100 free. 
  1. Name/position: Linsie Zhang / Treasurer
  2. Year: Senior
  3. Best stroke: Butterfly or Breast Stroke
  4. How many years have you been swimming/ what teams: This will be my 9th year swimming!! I swam for Pleasant High School and the Marion Family YMCA competing in both USA and YMCA league. 
  5. Why did you join the club team:  Swimming has been a part of my life for so long and I knew that I was not ready to let it go once I got to college. I was on a mission freshmen year to find this club and have enjoyed every moment of it.
  6. What is your favorite memory from club swimming: It's hard to pinpoint one memory, but I love all of the friends that I have made through the club who help make the freezing water bearable. 
  7. Name one goal for the upcoming season: Meeting more swimmers and strengthen the bonds within the team!
  1. Name/position: Jeremiah Vannest / Meet Coordinator
  2. Year: Senior
  3. Best stroke: Breaststroke
  4. How many years have you been swimming/ what teams:  I've been swimming for around 9 years. I swam for the Gahanna YMCA and for Westerville South High School before joining the club team here at OSU.
  5. Why did you join the club team: I wanted to stay active and meet some new friends!
  6. What is your favorite memory from club swimming: My favorite memory was 2018 Nationals because it was fun to cheer everybody on and watch everyone do so well. 
  7. Name one goal for the upcoming season: The goal for next season is to mix up the strokes I swim and to keep having a good time.
  1. Name/Position: Liam Manning / Apparel
  2. Year: Senior
  3. Best Stroke: Freestyle
  4. How many years have you been swimming/for what teams: I've been swimming for almost 10 years.  I swam for a team in Tennessee (BXST) and a team in Mississippi (Shockwave Aquatics).
  5. Why did you join the club team: A couple of club swimmers invited me to join while we were sharing a lane during the first week of freshman year. I didn't know anybody going into college, so I figured it would be easier to break the ice with people if we at least had swimming in common.
  6. What is your favorite memory from club swimming: My favorite memory was the guys winning nationals in our home pool.
  7. Name one goal for the upcoming season:  I want best times in the 50 and 100fr.
  1. Name/ position: Katie Donovan / Fundraising and Sponsorship
  2. Year: Senior
  3. Best stroke: Freestyle
  4. How many years have you been swimming/what teams: I've been swimming for around 15 years starting with my neighborhood team, the HPE Pirates! I swam on the Hudson Explorers Aquatic Team (HEAT) through elementary and middle school and swam for Hudson High School for 4 years. This will be my fourth year on CSOSU.
  5. Why did you join the club team: Coming to OSU, I joined the club team in attempt to try to find a smaller community on such a large campus. From joining CSOSU I found the feeling of a team, a workout, and amazing friends!
  6. What is your favorite memory from club swimming: My favorite memory from CSOSU is swimming on the 400 free relay at Nationals freshman year and getting third!
  7. Name one goal for the upcoming season: WIN NATIONALS!!! It was so fun to see the boys win the 2018 meet. I'd love to be able to not only have the girls team win, but have our entire team win the overall meet!
  1. Name/position: Isaac Lumley / Social Chair
  2. Year: Senior
  3. Best stroke: Freestyle
  4. How many years have you been swimming/ what teams: 8 years. I started my freshman year of high school and have since swum year round with many clubs and organizations.
  5. Why did you join the club team: I joined because swimming has become a large part of my life and I wanted to continue that in college.
  6. What is your favorite memory from club swimming: My favorite memory was the men’s team winning nationals this past year.
  7. Name one goal for the upcoming season: My main goal is to place higher at nationals than I did last year while also being as involved as possible with the team.
  1. Name/position: Marco LoPiccolo / Risk Manager
  2. Year: Sophomore
  3. Best stroke: Distance Freestyle and Butterfly
  4. How many years have you been swimming/ what teams: I started swimming when I was about 5 years on my club team back home for the Elgin Pelicans in Illinois and then I also swam for Huntley High School when I was older.
  5. Why did you join the club team: I joined the club team cause it seemed like the perfect place to meet a whole bunch of fun people and make new friends along with continuing my love for swimming.
  6. What is your favorite memory from club swimming: Easily one of the best moments was going on travel meets like the University of Virginia Meet where I got to ride in a car for 7 hours with my boys and then have a fantastic time at the meet.
  7. Name one goal for the upcoming season: My goal for this upcoming season is to keep improving in the events I love to swim as well as encouraging people to come to practice and have a great time along with being involved with the team as much as possible.
  1. Name/position: Abby Moellering / Nationals Coordinator
  2. Year: Senior
  3. Best stroke: Butterfly
  4. How many years have you been swimming/ what teams: I have been swimming competitively for 10 years now! I have done club swimming for the Anderson Barracudas and Kingfish Aquatic Club in Cincinnati, and swam for Saint Ursula Academy in high school. This will be my fourth year on CSOSU. 
  5. Why did you join the club team: Swimming has been such a big part of my life, and I did not want to give it up after I graduated high school. I also wanted an opportunity to meet new people coming into college, and I knew I would make such good friends in a sport I have always loved. 
  6. What is your favorite memory from club swimming: I have made so many good memories throughout my time on this team, but one that sticks out to me is traveling with the team to Atlanta for club swimming nationals my sophomore year. The boys team won the meet, and there was so much team spirit that it was hard not to have a good time! 
  7. Name one goal for the upcoming season: Our team is very supportive and likes to cheer, so I would like to see this enthusiasm at all of the meets throughout the season! ​
  1. Name/position: Shannon Dixon/ Nationals Committee
  2. Year: Sophomore
  3. Best stroke: Freestyle
  4. How many years have you been swimming/ what teams: I started swimming in middle school with a local club team, JDSAquatics, in Melbourne, Florida, then joined my highschools team for 4 years. This will be my second year on CSOSU!
  5. Why did you join the club team: I joined the team to make friends and still be able to eat copious amounts of junk food. By joining the team I have met a group of fantastic people that I am proud to call my family.
  6. What is your favorite memory from club swimming: After every practice a bunch of us would eat dinner at Scotts around 9:00 PM. While riding the high from the workout we would all eat a bunch of food and laugh way harder at jokes than we should have.
  7. Name one goal for the upcoming season: One goal I have for the upcoming season is for the girl’s team to beat Georgia Tech at Nationals!
  1. Name/position: Hannah Clinger / Nationals Committee
  2. Year: Junior
  3. Best stroke: Breaststroke
  4. How many years have you been swimming/ what teams: I have been swimming for about 14 years. I swam for Findlay Area Swim Team from age seven until high school, where I then swam for Findlay High School for four years. Then I joined CSOSU as a freshman and this will be my third year on the team.
  5. Why did you join the club team: I knew I wanted to stay involved with the sport, but didn’t have the time to swim every single day and was a little burned out from high school. CSOSU gave me the opportunity for whatever commitment I wanted to give while teaching me to love the sport again!
  6. What is your favorite memory from club swimming: Every relay that I’ve been on at nationals. Racing with three other girls with your teammates screaming from the bleachers is what I look forward to at the end of every season.
  7. Name one goal for the upcoming season: To help create a great atmosphere for the girls team to come together and compete at Nationals for a top three finish. 
  1. Name/ position: Kat Sparrow / Former President
  2. Year: Senior
  3. Best stroke: Butterfly
  4. How many years have you been swimming/ what teams: I started swimming when I was about 5 years old on a local summer league team called the Dublin Dolphins. I later swam for both Dublin Coffman High School and United Swim Association!
  5. Why did you join the club team: I joined Club Swimming at Ohio State because it seemed like the perfect opportunity for me to continue the sport that I loved and had grown up around. This team gives me the chance to both balance my time between academics and swimming and to train with other students who share my passion for swimming.
  6. What is your favorite memory from club swimming: My favorite memory would probably have to be competing on the winning 400 medley relay at Nationals my freshman year! Being able to hear CSOSU going crazy from our bleachers during the race and standing on the top of the podium with the other girls from the relay made me feel so lucky to have been a part of such an exciting race!
  7. Name one goal for the upcoming season: My goal for the upcoming season is to uphold the inclusive and motivating environment of this team that made me feel so welcomed as a freshman on CSOSU. It would also be great to see the energetic team spirit we have at Nationals brought to each of our meets throughout the year. Go Bucks!

Meet the Coaches!

  1. Name/Day: Kyle Hopkins/Sunday
  2. How many years have you been coaching/ what teams: I've coached with the Findlay Area Swim Team for three years (from 2013-2015) and have been writing workouts for CSOSU for about the past three years, as well.
  3. Were you ever a swimmer? If so, what was your favorite stroke/ event: Absolutely!  I'm definitely a swammer now, but have been swimming for the last 19 years.  My favorite events are pretty all over the spectrum: 500 free, 100 back, 200 IM, 100 IM (my Nationals lineup the last few years) but I usually swam everything, including a little breast when I wanted everyone to get a good laugh in 
  4. Why did you volunteer to coach our team: I volunteered to coach for CSOSU because I love the team and what club swimming means to so many people, experienced swimmers and not.  I swam with the team for 5 years through the spring of 2018 and was an officer for 4 of those years.  It's a great club that has a little bit of something for all types of swimmers and people.  Coaching is a great way to advocate for the sport I love while doing what I can to help the team get the same enjoyment from the sport that I always have.
  5. What quality is most valuable for a swimmer to have and why: I think this answer will sound a little like what Coach Jack would say (he'll be happy to know he rubbed off on me finally), but I have to say understanding is the most valuable quality.  By that I think of each person understanding what they hope to get out of swimming with the team: training for Nationals, recreation, social, a break from studying, etc. And within that an understanding of how to use their coaches and resources to get to what they deem success.  Our coaches aren't here to be dictators, after all it's the hot tub club!  We just want to help everyone enjoy themselves in one of the best facilities in the country.  
​
  1. Name/Day: Grayton Geisman / Monday
  2. How many years have you been coaching/ what teams: I started coaching for the first time this past semester for CSOSU!
  3. Were you ever a swimmer? If so, what was your favorite stroke/ event: I've been swimming competitively for 15 years. I started swimming with the Worthington Wave summer team and then Worthington Swim Club. In high school I swam for Worthington Kilbourne High School. Currently I've been completing for Club Swimming at Ohio State for 2 years.
  4. Why did you volunteer to coach our team: My favorite events are the 200 IM and the 100 Breast. I volunteered to coach so that I could give back to this team and so I could stay connected with swimmers I don't get to see often.
  5. What quality is most valuable for a swimmer to have and why: I think the most important quality of swimmer is being thoughtful about what you are practicing and having the dedication to do so day in and day out. 
  1. Name/ Day: Jack/ Tuesday
  2. How many years have you been coaching/ what teams: About 25 years - I started as a swimmer with the team - oh, awhile back. I have ONLY been a coach for this team, and that is fine by me.
  3. Were you ever a swimmer? If so, what was your favorite stroke/ event: Yes, once a swimmer - always a swimmer - even though it may not be current. I was (and still am) a distance and 400 IM'er - just happen to be out of  practice at the moment.
  4. Why did you volunteer to coach our team: It just sort of happened - over time (a long time), I went from creating workouts to being a coach.  
    I am still learning what that means and that is what is challenging (and fun) for me.  It is a challenge to figure out when to interrupt your flow and when not to.
  5. What quality is most valuable for a swimmer to have and why: Curiosity and a hint of  "bravado" (aka swagger, panache, confidence),
  • To have expectations (albeit realistic ones) for yourself (and for the those around you and for the coaches too). That you use every practice to "get" something (a time, a perfect stroke or a state of body/mind), and if it doesn't materialize - there is the next practice.
  • The internal and external smile - to remember why this sport has been fun, in the past, and will continue to be fun - as long as we want it to.
  • That this club is ALL of you, get to know those around you (I have always been surprised by the quality of "people" who swim, at all levels, and especially as adults). It is there if you want to find it.
  • The ability see the big picture - that no one set or practice defines us. We can swim for so many different physiological benefits (too many to list!).
  • That punching and churning the water is a healthier response than verbally (or even physically) punching someone in the face.
  • ASK questions of coaches and other swimmers, this is not a top down organization (there will be no yelling)
  1. Name/Day: AJ Burt/ Wednesday
  2. How many years have you been coaching/ what teams:  I've been coaching for 8 years, 6 of them as an assistant coach for the Wyoming Seadragons and three as head coach for the Cincinnati Country Club
  3. Were you ever a swimmer? If so, what was your favorite stroke/ event: I swam for 16 years, my last 4 for Wittenberg University. I did a little bit of everything, but specialized mostly in breaststroke and distance IM.
  4. Why did you volunteer to coach our team? Since becoming a swammer, I've really missed being involved in the sport, so coaching for the team is a great way for me stay active in and engaged with swimming. As a D3 swimmer I was also able to be passionate about lots of other extracurriculars, so it's fulfilling to work with swimmers who seem to pride themselves in both staying involved with their sport as well as lots of other forms of student involvement.
  5. What quality is most valuable for a swimmer to have and why:  I don't think I can or would place it on one thing because each member of a swim team operates so differently and each unique approach to the sport adds value(s) that influence and make a well-rounded unit. However one common trait I've found in great teammates is determination because it keeps the forward mental momentum necessary to succeed at any capacity.​